kellogg



(No Model.)

H. O. KBLLOGG.

BANJO 0R SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 591,844. Patented Oct. 19,1897.

UNITE STATES ATEN'r Ormcne HORACE O. KELLOGG, OF N EIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MINERVA E. KELLOGG, OF SAME PLACE.

BANJO OR SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,844, dated October 19, 1897.

Application filed March 2, 1897- Serial No, 625,692. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE O. KELLOGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos or Similar Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Thisinvention relates to banjos and similar musical instruments; and the object thereof Y is to improve the tone of instruments of this class, and also the volume thereof, which ob ject I accomplish by means of the construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, I have shown my invention applied to a banjo, and the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a banjo constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, a sectional bottom plan view of a part thereof; Fig. 3, a partial vertical section, and Fig. 4 a perspective View of a detail of the construction which I employ;

I11 the practice of my invention I provide a circular head or band 5, which is composed of wood, and to which the neck 6 of the instrument is secured, and secured to said band or head 5, opposite the neck 6, is a bridgeplate 7, with which the strings 8 are connected.

The head or band 5 is preferably provided at its upper side with an annular inwardlydirected flange or rim 9, and at the bottom thereof with a corresponding inwardly-directed flange or rim 10, and formed therein, above the bottom flange or rim 10, is an annular bead or projection 11.

The annular rib or projection 11 may be formed integral with or secured to the band or head 5, and in my invention the drumhead or sounding-board 12 is composed of pigskin, sheepskin, or other material usually employed for this purpose, and the perimeter thereof is secured to a frame composed of two annular plates 13, by means of a Wire ring or hoop placed in a groove formed in the adjacent surfaces of said plates, as shown in Fig. 3, and adjacent to and above which is placed a loose annular plate 14, over which the drumhead or sounding-board of the instrument is also passed, and passing through the metal plates 13 are a plurality of screws or bolts 15, and by properly manipulating the screws or bolts 15 the plate 14 will be forced upwardly and the drumhead or soundingboard rendered taut, as will be readily understood. I also provide bracket-arms 16, which are composed of metal, and are preferably of the form shown in Fig. 4, and each of these bracket-arms is provided with a flat head 17 which passes between the upper plate 13 and the loose plate 14, and the ends of the bolts or screws 15 press thereon, and these bracketarms consist of two separate branches 18, which are formed integral with the heads 17, and which project downwardly at right angles to said head and then outwardly and then downwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and each is provided at its lower end with a yoke or loop 19, which engages with the annular bead or projection 11.

Any desired number of the bracket-arms 16 may be employed, and by means thereof the drumhead or sounding-board, and the frame with which it is connected, consisting of the annular plates 13 and 14:, are held within the wooden band or head 5, and do not come in contact therewith at any point, these parts being arranged concentrically, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

My invention is not limited to the material herein referred to, and the band or head 5 may be composed of any suitable material, as may also the other parts of the instrument, and it will be apparent thatchanges in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

By supporting the drumhead or soundingboard and the frame with which it is connected in the manner described I improve the tone of the instrument, and increase largely the volume thereof, and it will also be apparent that an instrument constructed as herein described is comparatively inexpensive, the construction being less complicated, and

therefore less expensive than in instruments of this class as usually made.

Having fully described my invention, 1

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A banjo or similar musical instrument, comprising a head or band to which the neck of the instrument is secured, and aframe consisting of circular plates to which the drumhcads or sounding-board of the instrument is secured, said frame being supported within the head or band by bracket-arms, which are connected therewith, and which are adapted to engage or to be connected with said head or band, said frame with which the drum head or sounding-board is connected being also provided with an annular plate which is mounted thereover, and said frame being also provided with set-screws which are passed therethrough and which are adapted to bear on the heads of said bracket-arms, substantially as shown and described.

2. A banjo or similar instrument comprising a head or band as 5, aframe by which the drumhead or sounding-board is connected, consisting of annular plates as 13, and a movable plate as 14, mounted over said frame, said annular plates which constitute said senses frame being also provided with screws or bolts as 15, which are passed thcrctlwough, and bracket-arms as 10, by which said frame is supported, substantially as shown and described.

3. A banjo or similar instrument comprising a head or band as 5, a frame with which the drumhead or soumling-board connect ed, consisting of annular plates as 13, and a movable plate as 1-1:, mounted over said frame, said annular plates which constitute said frame being also provided with screws or bolts as 15, which are passed therethrough, and braeket-arms as 10, by which said frame is supported, saidbraclcct-arms beingadapi ed to engage at their lower ends with an annic lar bead or projection as 11., formed on or sir cured to the inner walls of the head or band, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing a. my invention l have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnossez-i, this 35th day of February, 1897.

HOP AGE 0. KELLWH 'Wi tnesses: V

ALBERT Anus, .l 12, GRAY/1T0 A; rescue. 

